Readiness Guide
We understand that it can be difficult to know if your student is ready for a particular program. At Rooted & Rising, we encourage parents to consider the skills of their individual student when choosing a program, rather than looking only at the age and expected grade level. We have intentionally named the elementary classes to transition away from grade levels, so parents have flexibility in choosing the program level that meets their student where they’re able to thrive.
Prek/Kinder
The Pre-K/Kindergarten program is designed for young learners who are ready for a morning of learning with movement and breaks built in. Students should be potty trained and able to participate in group activities, follow simple directions, and sustain attention for short tasks. Reading skills and letter mastery are not required. Throughout the year, students build foundational habits through storytelling, drawing, letter formation, and early sentence writing, growing in confidence, fine motor skills, and independence as they begin expressing their ideas on paper.
Building Foundations for Learning
1st/2nd Grade
The 1st/2nd grade program is a good fit for students who are reading or actively learning to read and are able to engage in a full morning of learning. Students should be able to follow directions, participate in discussions, and ask questions. Throughout the year, students strengthen their writing through sentence formation, drafting, revising, and publishing simple written pieces, building both foundational skills and confidence as communicators.
Building Early Skills and Confidence
2nd/3rd Grade
The 2nd/3rd grade program is a good fit for students who may not yet be ready for or interested in a full day of learning, as this is a morning-only program. Students should be able to write complete sentences and read independently, demonstrating the ability to follow both oral and written instructions. They should be ready to complete multi-step tasks with increasing independence and work collaboratively with a partner or small group. Students are expected to develop and defend simple opinions, participate in class discussions, and memorize foundational facts.
Growing into Confident Learners
3rd/4th Grade
The 3rd/4th grade program is a good fit for students who can work independently for 10-15 minutes, write complete sentences with basic capitalization and punctuation, and spell common phonetic words (invented spelling is acceptable). Students should be able to write a short paragraph (4-6 sentences) about a familiar topic, listen attentively during read-alouds, and participate in group discussions. A willingness to follow directions, accept guidance, and receive constructive feedback is more important than perfection, as skills continue to grow throughout the year. These students are also ready for a full day of learning as these students will engage in the morning and afternoon programming.
This program serves as a bridge into upper elementary and may also be a good fit for some 4th grade students who would benefit from an additional year of foundational skill-building. Class names are intentionally not grade-based to support thoughtful, individualized placement.
Transitioning into Upper Elementary
4th/5th Grade
The 4th–5th grade program is designed for students who are ready to move beyond foundational elementary work and begin developing the independence and responsibility expected in middle school. Students participate in a formal writing program, language roots study, and a capstone research paper, requiring sustained focus and organization.
This program is a good fit for students who can write and revise a clear paragraph, follow multi-step directions, manage materials with light support, and work independently for 20–25 minutes, while growing as critical thinkers and contributors.
Building Foundations for Independence
Middle school at Rooted & Rising is designed for students who are ready to work with a high level of independence and engage as mature, thoughtful learners. Students are expected to manage assignments and materials, follow multi-step instructions, and sustain focus for 20–30 minutes at a time. They should be able to participate respectfully in discussion, revise their writing based on feedback, and think critically about texts, ideas, and projects. These students will also be expected to develop and defend opinions supported by researched or learned facts.
Middle school is a good fit for students who are prepared to take ownership of their learning, handle increased responsibility, and grow as analytical thinkers within a collaborative, supportive community.
Developing Mature Thinkers